Title:  I Will Be There For You (#6 in the Radio Series)

Author:  OXBastetXO  

Category:  Angst

Spoilers:  The Movie, Brocca Divide, Serpent's Lair, Need, and Secrets

Sequel/Season Info:  Second

Rating: PG-13 (got some whumping)

Content Warning:  Um..you just better grab the whole box of kleenex this time.

Summary:  Home after a mission goes terribly wrong, Jack findes himself  alone left to wait and remember.

Authors note:  I just want to say thanks to Yum@, Dee, and Katie who gave me ideas for the scenes to use.  Thanks guys, this one is for you!

Showtime and MGM/UA owns Stargate: SG-1 and all there in. I'm just borrowing them for a bit, and I promise to give them right back when I'm done.  Well, most of them, I might just keep Jack and Daniel for a bit longer.

I Will Be There For You is from the Prince of Egypt -Nashville soundtrack and belongs to Jessica Andrews, I'm just borrowing it for background music

I Will Be There For You

by

OXBastetXO

Jack shoved the door to the break room open and shuffled in. He was tired. He should find someplace to get some sleep, but right now, he didn't think he could sleep if he tried. He grabbed a coffee cup and made his way to the coffee maker. He started to pour a cup and his mind started to race. How could things have gone so wrong so fast? The mission should have been a cake walk. In, look around, leave. Simple.

He snorted, when had anything ever been simple when it came to the Stargate.

"Looks like we have company." Jack motioned toward the group of approaching natives. The were wearing elaborated head dresses of garishly plumed feathers and their clothes were vibrant yellows and reds. Each clutched a strange looking spear. Jack and Sam kept their weapon trained on the natives. "What's with the spears?"

"I'm hoping something ceremonial," Daniel said quietly.

The native stopped and inclined their heads to them. Jack glanced over at Daniel. "Ok, Jackson. You're on."

Daniel took a deep breath and stepped forward. He raised his hand. "Um...Hi."

The leader of the approaching group stopped, raising his hand he spoke a few word Jack couldn't make heads or tails off.

"Daniel, what's he saying?"

The young archaeologist frown slightly. "Um..it sounds like some derivation of Aztec and maybe Gaelic. The dress is definitely Aztec." He smiled warmly at the chieftain. "I think, he said hello."

The chief spoke again and this time Jack picked up on a couple of the words. Mainly, Chaappa'ia, Apophis, and Goa'uld. Daniel nodded and then said something back to the man. The chief frowned and brought up his spear menacingly. Daniel made a quick placating gesture and said something else.

"Daniel? What's going on?"

Daniel pushed his glasses back up on his nose and took a step back towards the team. "Um..we might want to leave. They want to know if we serve the 'great god' Apophis. It seems this place is frequented by Apophis and his Jaafa." He motioned back over his shoulder towards Teal'c. "They recognized Teal'c tattoo."

"Ok, tell them we're leaving," Jack said, reaching down to pick up his pack.

Suddenly, one of the natives lunged forward. "Jack! Look out!" Daniel shouted, push him to the ground. Daniel landed heavily on top of him. Jack could hear Sam and Teal'c shouting and the sound of staff and gun fire. The native quickly broke off and retreated into the woods.

Jack tried to shove Daniel off of him but the young man wouldn't move. "Daniel, what the," his voice trailed off when his hands came in contact with something warm and sticky. He looked down and saw his hand was cover with blood. He twisted his body around and gently shifted Daniel off him. He managed to set up and finally got a good look at Daniel.

Daniel stared at him, his eyes wide in surprise. Jack looked down and his breath caught. Daniel followed were he was looking and made a small whimpering sound. Jack tightened his hold on Daniel's shoulder.

There sticking out of Daniel's side was the tip of one of the native's spears. The rest of the spear was sticking out of his back. The color swiftly drained from the young archaeologist face. "Jack?" Suddenly, he slumped forward. Jack grabbed him before he hit the ground.

"Carter, start dialing! We need to get him back pronto!" Jack shouted getting to his feet. He grabbed Daniel under his arm trying to pull him upright. "Teal'c, give me a hand!" he ordered.

The wormhole blossomed to life behind them.

Jack slammed the cup down and coffee sloshed out onto the counter. Why couldn't he have just yelled and stayed out of the way? Why did he always have to be so danged noble?

Jack took a shuddering sigh and slumped back against the counter. 'He was Daniel,' was the only answer he could think of, and he wouldn't have him any other way. Jack rested his elbow on the counter and bumped into something. He looked down and saw the little radio. Music blared out of the small speakers. Jack frowned and picked up his coffee.

When I lost faith, you believed in me.

When I stumbled, you were right there.

For every act of love you've done, I owe you one.

Jack sat staring at the fire, watching the flames leap up and then vanish. His orders had been simple, but nothing was simple now. He heard foot steps behind him and turned. Daniel stood in the entrance to the side chamber. Jack had to admit the geek was a lot tougher than he looked. Who'd a thought?

Daniel shifted uneasily. "You had accept that no matter what happened you weren't coming home," he began with out preamble. "Don't you someone waiting for you? A family?"

Jack looked back down at the fire. "I had a family," he said tightly, his emotions threatening to spill over into his voice. "No one should ever have to out live their own child."

Daniel looked at him, there was something behind those blue eyes that understood. Something incredibly old in the young man's eyes. "I don't want to die," he said finally. He motioned back towards the other chamber. "Your men don't want to die." He stared right at Jack. "It's a shame your in such a hurry to."

There were hard times.

I know I survived just because you stayed by my side

With all I have, with all I am, I promise you all my life.

Jack and Sam stepped through the gate in to a war zone. Two Horus guard lay crumpled against the pyramid wall to their right. He caught of glimpse of Daniel kneeling before Heru'Ur at the foot of the steps leading to the gate. "What's going on," he started and then he saw Heru'Ur raises his hand, the golden jewel of a ribbon device glowed in the center of it. He gave Sam a shove away from the gate, "Move!"

Heru'Ur followed them bring to bare the destructive power of the ribbon device on them. Daniel lunged to his feet grabbing the Goa'uld's arm sending the shot wild. Heru'Ur let out a enraged growl and whirled on the archaeologist wrenching his arm free. He landed a vicious back hand that sent the younger man sprawling. Daniel landed on the sand in a motionless heap.

Jack used Daniel's distraction to come back down the steps. He shifted his rifle to his left hand.

"You dare to challenge me?" Heru'Ur roared bringing the ribbon device in his hand back up.

Jack flipped the strap off his knife and slid it free. "I was thinking about it." He sent the knife soaring toward the Goa'uld. The knife shattered the crystal of the ribbon device and buried itself in Heru'Ur's palm.

Heru'Ur grabbed his hand with a roar. "You will pay for this insolence." He glared at Jack and activated something on his wrist. The rings of the transported descended and spirited him away.

Whenever the road is too long,

whenever the wind is too strong,

wherever this journey may lead to,

I will be there for you.

Oh, I will be there for you.

Jack pushed the door to the storage room open slowly. He cautiously stepped in and started to look around. He caught a glimpse of a figure huddled in the far corner behind one of the supply shelves. He started forward and the bank of florescent lights over his head exploded in a shower of sparks and glass shards. He cursed and dove behind a row of shelves. How did Daniel get his hands on a gun?

"Daniel, what are you trying to do? Kill me?"

"You're trying to kill me." Jack could hear the desperation in the younger man's voice.

"Oh, for crying out loud," Jack snarled. 'Got to get that gun away from him before he hurts himself or somebody else.' He looked between the shelves trying to get a fix on Daniel's exact possession.

"I'm going back." Daniel stated. No threats, not pleading, just a simple statement of fact. A fact that wasn't going to fly.

"Why?" Jack incredulously. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Doctor Frazier says your getting better."

"Your lying!" Panic and anger tinged the younger man's voice.

"Why would I lie?" Jack shot back incredulously. Given Daniel's present state of mind there was no reasoning with him, Jack knew. 'Was there ever?' he thought, cynically.

Suddenly, Daniel lunged for the door. Jack tackled him and they slammed into a row of the metal shelves sending the shelves toppling to the floor. Daniel swung wildly at him. Jack was surprised at the younger man's strength. They struggled and tumbled to the floor and Daniel managed to pull away. Jack found himself staring down the barrel of a pistol.

Jack crouched on his knee. He took a deep breath and watched the younger man. "What ya doing to do, Daniel? Shoot me?" he asked quietly.

Daniel watching him with wild and red rimmed eyes. His grip on the gun shook, and he backed up against the doorframe as far as he could. Jack saw Daniel's wide blue eyes fill pain, confusion, and desperation. Daniel tightened his grip on the gun.

Suddenly, he realized just how messed up the young man was. How much the sarcophagus had unhinged Daniel's brilliant mind. Up to now, his anger at his friend's betrail of his trust had been all that he had seen. Dippy Daniel going off the deep end with his precious princess leaving them all to die in the mine. He looked at the shattered man who crouched in the doorway facing him. The talented, caring, sensitive man he was barely recognizable in this pitiful creature. He closed his eyes for a moment, swallowing the lump that suddenly formed in his throat. "Oh, look at you. I know what this is. I know what it's like. We

can get through it."

"No!" Daniel choked on the word and whatever resolve he was clinging to suddenly crumbled. Sobs wracked his ravaged frame.

Jack took the gun from Daniel and cradled him in his arm. Daniel shook as he wept bitterly into Jack's shoulder. Jack held him, absently rubbed Daniel's back offering whatever strength he could to the broken man. 'We'll get through this, Danny. I promise,' Jack thought has he rocked him. 'We'll get through this.'

Through sorrow,

on the darkest night,

when there's heartache deep down inside,

just like a prayer,

I will be there,

and I promise you all my life.

Jack ducked behind one of the consoles as a zat gun blast sizzled over his head. He caught a glimpse of Daniel skirting the side of the sarcophagus. Suddenly, Klorel grabbed Daniel by the front of his shirt. Daniel's gun slipped out of his hand and slid over to land at Jack's feet. Jack grabbed the gun and looked up. Klorel held Daniel with his one hand and was bring the his ribbon device to bare. It glowed ominously and Daniel gasped as the golden light filled his face.

Jack brought the pistol up. "Skaara! No!"

The Goa'uld's power flashed in the boy's eyes and he brought the ribbon device closer to Daniel's face. Daniel's eyes went wide in panic and pain as the ribbon device's destructive power boar down on him.

"O'Neill, you must stop him," Teal'c shouted, concern shown in the Jaafa's eyes.

"Skaara! Don't!" Jack yelled. The boy ignored him. "Skaara!" Jack tightened his grip on the gun. The Goa'uld in the boy wasn't going to give up his hold. "Skaara!" Jack prayed the boy would forgive him and he squeezed the trigger.

The first bullet hit Skaara in the shoulder and the second hit him in the chest. The ribbon device winked out and Daniel crumpled to the floor. Skaara tumbled down beside him.

Tears burn Jack's throat and clouded his vision. He has saved one life he treasured only to lose another.

Whenever the road is too long,

whenever the wind is too strong,

wherever this journey may lead to,

I will be there for you.

Oh, I will be there...

Jack and Sam pushed past the guards to Tuplo's audience chamber. Teal'c followed behind them with Daniel slung over his shoulders.

The Minoan leader jumped to his feet as soon as they entered. "What are you doing? You can't bring him in here!" he shouted pointing to Teal'c and Daniel. "He is touch! Do you mean to bring the curse here?"

"We have a cure," Jack tried to explain.

"You will leave!" Tuplo ordered. Guard stepped forward.

"For crying out loud," Jack snapped, his patients wearing paper thin. "At least give us a chance."

The Minoan glared at him and then sighed. "Put him in the circle." He gestured toward the pile of pillows at the top of the dias. The same place they had seen the girl, Melosha, put before. Melosha, Tuplo's own daughter.

Jack nodded to Teal'c. The Jaffa started forward only to have his way blocked by Tuplo's guards. The Minoan nodded and the guard let him past. Teal'c slowly climbed the steps and lowered Daniel to the cushion set in the center of the isolation circle. Daniel didn't move, but Jack could see his eyes were open. whether the archaeologist even knew where he was or what was going on around him was anyone's guess.

Tuplo clapped his hand and servants brought chairs for him and Sam. Teal'c opted to remain by Daniel up on the dais. Jack would have preferred to be there, but knew he couldn't, at least not for now.

Jack sighed and sat. His mind went back to events of the last couple of days. First, they had inadvertently brought the alien virus back through the gate to Earth and then they started to get it one by one. That was except Teal'c, Daniel, and Doctor Frazier. 'Bless Daniel and his allergies,' Jack thought wryly. Frazier had tracked it down that the reason that she and Daniel had not contracted the virus was due to antihistamines they took for allergies and that had led to the cure.

Jack glanced up at Daniel's inert form at the top of the dais. Teal'c looked down at him and nodded. He was ok, for now.

Jack glanced down at his watch. How long did this take? He couldn't remember. Then again he hadn't been in much shape to remember much of anything when Frazier had tried the cure on him. Though he could remember, even through the haze of the virus, Teal'c telling him that he had lost Daniel Jackson on the planet's dark side. Lost him, when they had been attacked by the Touched on their way to Tuplo's people to try to get a blood sample of the Untouched to use to find a cure. Lost trying to help Melosha. Jack could only imagine what had happened to him then. Left alone to the mercies of the savage Touched. His ripped and tore clothing played a mute tribute to the rough treatment he had met at their hands. When they had find found him, Daniel's antihistamines had run out and he had contracted the virus himself. Jack couldn't get the image of the younger man's face out of his mind. Daniel face, distorted by the virus and discolored by a mottling of bruised, the fear and confusion in his eyes. Jack winced. He knew a few of those bruises he had put there himself when he had attacked Daniel after he had come down with the virus.

Daniel began to stir. Jack was on his feet. "There's our boy," he said heading up the steps.

Daniel sat up unsteadily on the cushions. "Where are we?" he asked thickly.

"We are on P3X797," Teal'c said handing Daniel his glasses.

"I thought we were going to come up with a better name for this place," Daniel said, clumsily taking the glasses and slipped them on.

Jack smiled in relief. "He's back. He's normal."

Whenever the road is too long,

whenever the wind is too strong,

wherever this journey may lead to,

I will be there for you.

Oh yes, I will be there for you.

I'll always be there.

"Colonel O'Neill?"

Jack looked up to see Janet Frazier standing in the break room doorway. He straightened. "Daniel?"

She smiled, "He's going to be fine. He's in recovery now. You can see him as soon as we move him to a room."

Jack nodded mutely and slumped back against the counter, relief washed over him. He rubbed his face tiredly. "As soon as ok, I'm going to kill him."

Janet's eyebrows quirked up. "Oh, and what did Daniel do earn this remark?"

Jack swore and slammed his fist into the counter. "What did he do? Fool idiot got himself skewered, is what he did!"

"And in the process saved you life," Janet said, mildly.

"Yeah," Jack whispered, the wind suddenly knocked out of his sails. "But that's not his job. It's mine."

"He's an adult, Jack. He can take care of himself." She held up her hand cutting him off. "He knows the risk. Probably better than any of us, but it's his choice. You've been there for him, do begrudge him being there for you."

Jack nodded at the rebuke. "You're right." He hated it, but she was right.

Janet nodded toward the door way. "Now it's your turn."

Jack shook his head and looked at the petite doctor. "Yeah, now it's my turn."

*fin*

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